Angiopoietin-2 and Tie2 signals shaping liver metastasis in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
Official title: Angiopoietin-2/Tie2 signaling regulation of liver metastasis in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11473762 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study explores how Angiopoietin-2 and the Tie2 receptor influence the spread of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors to the liver and how this affects responses to immunotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 12, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $365,147 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA266270-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11473762 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, especially those with or at risk for liver metastases, may benefit from advances arising from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without PanNET or without liver metastases may not directly benefit from the findings.
What this research studies
This project looks at how blood vessel signals involving Angiopoietin-2 and Tie2 contribute to liver metastases in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, with the goal of improving treatment options. Researchers plan to study how these signals promote a tumor-friendly environment and hinder immune therapies, using data from mouse models and human tissue where available. The work aims to identify targets that could be blocked to prevent metastasis or enhance the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors. By understanding the mechanisms of vascular instability and immune evasion, the study hopes to inform new therapeutic strategies for advanced PanNET. The grant supports experiments over several years at Columbia University to translate basic findings into potential clinical approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new treatments that limit liver metastasis and improve responses to immunotherapy for PanNET patients.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary animal studies suggest Ang2 inhibition reduces liver metastasis and improves survival in PanNET models, supporting further investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Minah — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Kim, Minah
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Targeting Angiopoietin‑2/Tie2 to limit liver spread of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
The team is looking at whether blocking a blood‑vessel protein called Angiopoietin‑2 can reduce liver spread in people with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
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Understanding and Stopping Liver Spread of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
This work explores how a protein called Angiopoietin-2 helps pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors spread to the liver and how blocking it might improve treatments.
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Understanding how Angiopoietin-2 affects liver metastasis in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
This study is looking at how a protein called Angiopoietin-2 affects the spread of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors to the liver, and it hopes to find new ways to help patients with this type of cancer live longer and healthier lives.
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Investigating how Angiopoietin-2 affects liver metastasis in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
This study is looking at how a protein called Angiopoietin-2 affects the spread of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors to the liver, and it aims to find out if blocking this protein can help slow down tumor growth and improve survival for patients with this type of cancer.
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Lymph node metastasis and immune tolerance in head and neck cancer
A study in people with head and neck cancer looks at how cancer spread to lymph nodes may shape the immune system and help tumors grow.
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A project to understand why a pediatric muscle cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma spreads, and to test ideas that could slow or stop it by helping cancer cells mature properly.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.